Like slaves on the sugar plantations of the Antilles, ...the sugar slaves of southern Louisiana had negative birthrates for as long as slavery lasted.

Chano Pozo created the role of the conga soloist in the modern band, somewhat th way Coleman Hawkins created the solo tenor sax.

Miguelito, liberated from having to sing with Cugat, sounds like he just got out of jail and is letting it rip.

That spirit of mockery characteristic of the guaracha was part of the mambo from the beginning.

One often reads that the 1950s was the golden age of Cuban music, but it was really one long phase, from 1937 to 1958, each year with its own splendour.

Every farm with slaves was a slave-breeding farm. Raising slaves was mostly a cottage industry.

Up through and including Lincoln, American politicians nursed a fantasy of repatriating blacks to Africa.

I don't spill my drinks on just any man, you know." She touched his cheek. "only dashing shark lovers with pantydropping accents.

The first love disappears, but never goes. That ache becomes reconciliation.

Believe in yourself. You believe because you have faith. And because you have faith, you have courage to do.

Godliness should promote the posture worth of exercise and fitness

Fear? If I have gained anything by damning myself, it is that I no longer have anything to fear.

Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.

A greater absurdity cannot be thought of than a morose, hardhearted, covetous, proud, malicious Christian.

If kids like a picture book, they're going to read it at least 50 times. Read anything that often, and even minor imperfections start to feel like gravel in the bed.

The whites are the same everywhere. I see them every day.

The "wall of separation between church and State" is a metaphor based on bad history.